Coif teat



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

w. H. STAATS.

(JOIN TEAL No 504,684.. "Patented Sept. 5,1893.

(Ro Iodel.) 2 Skeete -Sheet 2,

y W. H. STAATS.

V COIN TRAY.. I I

No. 504,684.: Patented Sept; 5, 1893.

- l ll 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. STAATS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES F. GRIFFIN, OF SAME PLACE.

COIN-TRAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 504,684, dated September 5, 1893. Application filed April 20, 1893, Serial No. 471,127 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. STAATS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Trays, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to coin trays and has for its object to provide a simple, cheap and eifect-ive apparatus for the purpose of holding coins, which shall occupy comparatively little space and at the same time hold a comparatively large number of coins, which may be set upright so as to occupy little room on the desk or counter, or may be laid flat on the desk, and which may be readily stored, and to these ends my invention consists in a coin tray embodying the general features of construction and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter more particularly set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1, is a front view of a section of the coin tray. Fig. 2, is a vertical, transverse, sectional view of the same. Fig. 3, is a perspective view of one of the sides of the tray. Fig. 4, is a perspective view of the pocket strip; and Fig.5,is an end view, showing two trays arranged for storing.

In carrying out my invention, I provide the sides A, which are preferably made of metal, and these sides are provided with feet A extending to the front and rear, and the front edge of each side is scalloped or cut away forming recesses, and projections A A and two of these sides are united in any suitable way, as by rods B, connecting the upper and lower portions of the sides, thereby forming a practically rigid framework to support the coin trays. The outer edges of the rearwardly extended portions of the feet A, are cut out orset in somewhat from the outer surfaces of said sides, and flanges a intersect such portions with the sides, as shown in the drawings. To conform to this construction, the flanges a are curved outwardly or offset as at a, so that when the trays are to be nested together, the set-in portions of the feet of one tray-support will be received on top of the forwardly extended portions of the feet of another tray-support and in this way the sides of all of the supports will be even or flush with each other, occupying the same width of space when packed for storage or transportation. See Fig. 5 of the drawings. The flanges A lend additional strength between the feet and sides, and the feet being smooth on their under surfaces will not scratch or mar the surface of a desk or other support upon which they may be placed while the device IS in use.

The coin trays O are made separate and of such a form that they can readily be cast, and they are provided with lugs or projections 0' on their ends, which are adapted to fit into slots A in. the sides, the slots being shown in the present instance, at an angle to the base, and it will thus be seen that the trays can be separately made and easily united with the sides, by inserting the projections into the slots, before the sides are secured by the rods, and when this is done, the whole device is securely held together and formsa light, cheap and substantial coin tray. It will be understood that there may be as many coin trays O as it is desired to have different sized coins and I have shown four in the present instance, adapted to hold silver dollars, half-dollars, quarters and ten-cent pieces, and the trays are made substantially the same in all essential characteristics, except as to size, each tray being adapted t hold a particular coin. It will thus be seen that the trays may be cast or otherwise formed separately and may be united to the sides, and I am enabled to make any desired combination for holding different sized coins to suit the wishes of purchasers.

Each coin tray is provided with two series of pockets D, D, one series being arranged a little in front of the other preferably so i that the coins supported in the forward row of pockets will extend about one-third of their diam eters in front of the coins supported in the rear row D of pockets. the coins in the forward row of pockets can In this way,

be readily grasped and removed before the coins in the rear row are removed. Each pocket is made of a size to hold a definite number of coins of a given value, and while the sizes may be varied, I preferably make the pockets of the dollars tray of a size to hold ten silver dollars, of the half-dollars the same, of the quarter-dollars eight, and of the ten-cent pieces ten, as this I find the most convenient arrangement in making change. Each pocket is open at the bottom, so as to permit dust and dirt to pass through,but the openings D are of such a size as to prevent the coins passing through.

The front edge of each coin tray is curved, as at D to conform substantially to the outline of the coin, and to occupy as little room as practicable, so that when they are arranged in the sides, they will not interfere with the removal of the coins in the tray below. The trays being inclined, as shown in Fig. 2, to remove the coins they are rolled or lifted over the edge of the tray, causing them to approach slightly toward the bottom of the tray above, and the trays are arranged so as to give clearance to removing the coins from either the upper or lower rows of pockets. The rear edge of the coin tray is provided with a raised flange D which, as seen in Fig. 2, extends upward behind and generally a little above the front edge D of the next succeeding tray, and it serves to aid in preventing the coin from falling through the pockets of the tray, if they are disturbed bybeing shaken or dropped flatwise into or above the pockets. The sides or racks are preferably inclined slightly and the projections A correspond substantially with the front edges of the trays, while the recesses A allow the coins to be readily grasped by the hand. Moreover, this construction gives an ornamental appearance to the device, and lessens its cost.

The coin tray can also be used when lying in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 5, the pockets being so curved and shaped as to retain the coin therein in either a substantially vertical or horizontal position. Moreover, in this way, two or more trays with their coins, can be nested or placed one above the other, for the purpose of storage, the extensions A of the .feet of one tray being out away or reduced as hereinbefore explained,

so thatthey fit into the opening below the bottom of the next one, so that the separate trays are practically held together against liability of slipping, and can be readily moved or transported, without danger of spilling or dropping the coins contained therein. It will thus be seen that I provide a coin tray which will hold a comparatively large number of coins in a small space, in which the coins are arranged in double rows in each tray, so that the front row of coins will have to be removed before removing the coins in the rear row, in which the tray may be supported in an inclined position occupying little space, or can with equal facility be laid fiat on the counter or table used, or nested for storage, and the parts are. exceedingly simple and cheap to manufacture, and are interchangeable.

While I have thus described and shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is evident that the details of construction and arrangement may be varied to suit the requirements of any particular case, without departing from thespirit of my invention.

What I claim is-- 1. A coin tray comprising a frame consisting of two side pieces having feet and scalloped front edges, the separable trays adapted to be supported in the side pieces and the rods connecting the side pieces, substantially as described.

2. A coin tray comprising a frame consisting of the two side pieces having feet and inclined slots, the separable trays having pockets for the coins and provided with projections fitting said slots and rods connecting the side pieces, substantially as described.

3. A coin tray comprising the sides secured together, and the separable trays having pockets for the coins and provided with means for securing them to the sides, the trays being provided with rear flanges arranged to extend under openings in the next tray; sub* stantially as described.

4. The combination with the sides and rods connecting them, the sides being provided with alternate recesses and projections, of the trays for holding the coins arranged at an inclination in the sides and having their front edges corresponding with the projections, exposing the coins in the recesses of the sides, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the inclined sides having feet and recessed front edges and provided with inclined slots, of the trays having recesses for the coins, and provided with projections at their ends fitting the slots, the trays being arranged at an inclination to the sides, so that their front edges will correspond with the projections of the sides, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the sides and means for securing them together and the feet or extensions supporting the frame of the sides; of the detachable trays having pockets for holding the coin, the trays being connected to the sides at an angle so that they will support the coin whether the sides are in a substantially upright or horizontal position; substantially as described.

7. The combination with the sides and means for securing them together, the sides being provided with the rear extensions; of the coin trays secured to thesides, the arrangement being such that the coins are held in position when the tray is in a substantially vertical or horizontal position and the various coin trays may be nested for storage; substantially as described.

8. A coin tray comprising thesides, means for securing them together, trays supported by the sides and extensions for the sides, the said extensions being cut away to permit the trays being nested, substantially as described.

9. The combination with the sides properly connected together, and the trays supported between the sides, said sides being provided With feet having rear extensions set in from the outer surfaces of the sides, substantially as shown and for the purpose described.

10. The combination with the sides suitably connected together, and the trays supported between the sides, said sides being provided with feet having rear extensions set in to from the outer surfaces of the sides, and the intersecting flange curved to form an ofiset, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. STAATS.

Witnesses:

J. FRED MCGUIRE, J OHN P. Jonnson. 

